Aquatic amusement device



July 14, 1925'. 1,546,031

F. C. SCHOFIELD AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 1925.

F. C. SCHOFIELD AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1920 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 14, 1925. 1,546,031

F. C. SCHOFIELD AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 AT" ORNEY.

Patented July 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES TENT 1 FREDERICK c. SCHOFIELD, o2 EETEBSBUBG, VIRGINIA, 'ASS'IGNOB or ONE-HALF 'ro WALTER sAcHs, 0F R-ETERsRURG, VIRGINIA; JENNIE scI-IoEIELD ADMINISTRA- TBIX o'E sAID EaEDERIcK o. soHor-IELD, DECEASED.

AGHJ'A'IIG AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed November 23, v1920. Serial No. 426,003.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIoK (130110.- FIELD, of Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aquatic Amusement Devices, of which the following isa specification. v

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for aquatic amusement or sport which will provide unique entertainment, healthful and enjoyable exercise, and freedom from danger ofinjury to "those using the apparatus, and with this generally stated object in view, my invention consists in the apparatus substantially as described or included within the language or scope of the appended claims.

.In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a top plan view somewhat diagrammatic illustrating one embodiment ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail View of a portion of the apparatus shown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a similar View to illustrate more particularly a form of variable speed driving mechanism that may be employed Fig. 4: is a top plan view somewhat diagrammatic illustrating a devious course of travel of the endless cable by whichthe participants are suspended and drawn thru the water; Y V

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical .SGCtlOll Ojli a floating barge form of apparatus embodying my invention; v I

Fig. 6 is a detail view in perspective showing the traveling cable with various forms of floats that may be usede Fig. 7 is a detailview in cross section of the chariot formfloat; Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective of a swivel device that maybe employed to suspend the floats trom the cable;

Fig. 9 is a detail View of mechanism for causing intermittent discharge of jets or streams of water; v Fig. 10 is a side elevation somewhat diagrammatic illustrating my invention embodied in apparatus erected at the seashore. Briefly described, my apparatus comprehends the use of a traveling endless support located above the surface of abody of water, (the ocean at the seashore, or other body of water, or an isolated Zpool of water) from which dangle, at suitable "intervals apar't, ropes or other flexible su1'3'ports, with or without floats or buoyant bodies, to be grasped hold ofor to be occupied by persons, such endless support being either a wheel or large diameter or an endless chain or cable passing in a more or less devious course over wheels or pulleys located at suitable dis tances' apart and with such relation as to cause the endless chain or cable to move thru the desired path. I illustrate in the drawings some of many forms in which invention may beembod'ie'd, it "being unnecessary to show even all that have occurred to me. V

A In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, I c'onstructa largetanfk or pool, 10,

of oblong form, within which hear each form, such as the body of a large fish, "14 p or the reproduction of a Roman chariot, 15, upon or in which the person may ride. Preferably, 'float's or supports of the description just named are provided with asteering device or rudder, 16, mounted uponthe lowerend of a vertical shaft, 17, and which has at the top a hand wheel 18, or other suitable form of handle, to manipulate and control the position of the rudder. Thus the rider, according to his OWn'IrQtions or fancy, may pursue a devious or erratic course thru the Water by suitable manipulation of the rudder notwithstanding the more or less regul r course 'o'f travel which the cable or towing rope is forced to pursue. A swiveled connection is provided between the suspending rope and the cable, such as that shown detail in Fig. 8, a comprising a sleeve, 19,

upon the cable fre'e tooscillate thereon but I confined by collars, 20, at opposite ends that are fixed to the cable "so that it will not slide along the cable. The dangling ropes or suspending devices will be given such length that there will Be no likelihood that a person hanging thereto or supported by the float will be lifted out of the water. The surfaces of floats or other suspended objects will preferably be provided with cushioning means, such as sponge rubber, for example, at points likely to hit or strike against persons in the water so as to obviate any danger of harm to such persons.

The towing member, whether a wheel of large diameter or an endless chain or cable is driven by a suitable engine or motor and it may be driven at a constant rate of speed,

but I prefer to have its speed of travel variable so that for a portion of the time it may run fast and at another time slow in order to add to the amusement-giving features of the apparatus and to permit of loading and unloading. I therefore show in the drawings propelling mechanism arranged to impart variable speed to the towing device, such mechanism being best shown in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that one of the pulleys or sheaves, 11, is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft, 21, having a bevel gear, 22, which meshes with a bevel gear, 23, on one end of a horizontal shaft, 24, upon the other end of which is a band wheel or pulley 25. The latter is connected by a belt, 26, with. av driving pulley, 27, on ahorizontal shaft, 28, upon one end of which is fixed a friction disk, 29. En

gaging the face of the disk, is a friction driving roller, 30, slidably keyed to a horizontal shaft, 31, which is coupled directly to aconstant speed electric motor, 32, The pulley, 30, is mounted in a sliding frame, 33, supported by parallel guides, 34, so that it may be shifted radially of the friction disk, 29, and thus the speed at which the disk, 29, is driven may be varied. A pitman, 35, connects the sliding frame, 33, with a worm wheel, 34, in mesh with a worm, 36, on the shaft, 31, and thus, by the revolution of the worm wheel, 34, from the shaft, 31.,

the friction driving pulley, 30, traversed back and forth against the face of the disk, 29. A pier or foundation, 37, for the support of the motor mechanism may conveniently be constructed of concrete, and each of the'sheaves or pulleys that support the towing line or cable may likewise be supported.

.To add to the merriment occasioned by the use of my apparatus, I contemplate having at suitable intervals along the line of travel of the towing device, nozzles or spouts for discharging streams of water upon persons as they are carried along. The discharge from these spouts or nozzles may be continuous, but preferably to add to the amusement-giving element of uncertainty, I prefer to have such spouts or nozzles discharge such streams of water intermittently. This may be accomplished in various ways. For example, the series of'spouts or nozzles, 38,

the stem, 44, of each gate-valve is connected with the core of a solenoid, 45, the series of solenoids being connected in parallel with a circuit, 46, that includes a rotary switch, 47, having for each solenoid a make and each solenoid is automatically opened and closed. Whe'n closed, which is for a limited period, the gate valveis open. When the circuit thru the solenoid is broken, a spring, 49, acts to close the valve. The rotary switch, 47, is operated by an electric motor, 50.

In Fig. 4, I show in very compact space, an arrangement by which the towing line or cable moves thru a very devious course and over a lengthy route from the start to finish; in- Fig. 5 -I show my invention embodied in apparatus mounted upon a barge, 51, in the form of a rectangular float that encloses a pool, 52, -of water, over which the tow line, 53, travels, the pool, 52, having a slatted bottom, 53, for the entrance of water from the body in which the barge floats; and in Fig. 10 I show apparatus embody ing my invention in which the tow line supporting and. traveling" sheaves, 54, are mounted on piers, 55, erected upon the ocean bottom, a dressing booth, 56, being provided from which a suitable walk, 57, leads to the water adjacent the apparatus.

The features of the variable speed of the tow line and the ability to steer the floats and the discharge of jets or streams of water coact to add to the interest in and the mirth-provoking properties of my invention in that by reason of the variable speed is inbreak device, 48, whereby the circuit thru troduced, the element of uncertainty as to the time of coming under a jet or stream of water and the duration ofthe stay thereunder, and by steering the float theoccupant or rider may make efl'orts to avoid the jets or streams.

As will be evident, my invention may be embodied in apparatus andenvironment or surroundings of great variety and it furnishes easily installed appliances for mirthproducing and healthful exercise or recreation thatis amusing or entertaining alike to participants and spectators and while furnishing or affording motions or movements thru the water akin to swimming, is devoid of the ordinary risks of swimming.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water, suspending devices dangling therefrom, and means automatically to impart motion to said towing device at variable speeds.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water, suspending devices dangling therefrom, and means to discharge a stream or streams of water upon persons carried by the towing member the stream outlet or outlets being above the surface of the water above which the towing member travels.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water, suspending devices dangling therefrom, and means to discharge intermittently a stream or streams of water upon persons moving along with said dangling devices the stream outlet or out-lets being above the surface of the water above which the towing member travels.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water, suspending devices dangling therefrom, means to move such towing member means automatically to vary the rate of speed of the towing memher, and means to discharge a jet or jets of water upon persons being towed.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water; suspending devices dangling therefrom, said devices including a dirigible support, and means to discharge a jet or jets of water upon persons upon such supports the point or points of discharge of the jet or jets being above the surface of the water above which the towing member travels. 1

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a towing member traveling above the surface of the water suspending devices dangling therefrom, means to move such towing member said devices including a dirigible support, means to discharge a jet or jets of water upon persons upon such supports, and means automatically to vary the speed of said towing member.

In testimony whereof I hereiuito aflix my signature.

FREDERICK C. SCHOFIELD. 

